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Havana provided the setting for a coach instructors’ course organised as part of the collaboration agreement between the Cuban Football Association (AFC) and the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) aimed at allowing the participating coaches to deliver the C Licence in Cuba. The course brought the curtain down on the partnership between the two institutions, which was launched in 2018 and has also involved courses in youth football and refereeing.
FIFA promoted the link-up through its Member Associations Americas Subdivision and assisted in the organisation of the instructors’ course, which combined the methodologies adopted by the FIFA Coach Educators’ Development Programme and the CBF Academy.
“In line with FIFA’s vision to make football truly global, such agreements are vital when it comes to bringing us closer to our member associations and fostering the development of the game in key areas. The idea is always to share the lessons we’ve learnt, seek areas for improvement and reproduce these kinds of agreements throughout the world,” explained Javier Gonzalez, development coordinator at the FIFA Regional Office in Asuncion.
“FIFA offers its support and assistance in terms of coordination. In this instance, FIFA has been helping the AFC and CBF since 2018 in the collaboration agreement that is focused on the training of instructors. The ultimate aim is to achieve sustainable development,” added Gonzalez.
“It’s been a privilege for us to have been involved in this partnership,” stated Oliet Rodriguez, AFC President. “Having a relationship with such a prestigious institution has strengthened us as an organisation, even in terms of our morale. It has involved two associations that are different in so many ways and yet we have come together and both been willing to share and work together. This has paved the way for what could be a very promising future.”
Seventeen instructors from across Cuba descended on the capital for the course, which was held between 12 and 16 September. The training of C Licence coaches is an important element at the foot of the coaching pyramid, with coaches at this level working with boys and girls aged six to 12.
“This represents a really significant step for us as an association in the development of the game in our country,” commented Miguel Angel Diaz, AFC General Secretary. “Upskilling our coaches was one of our most pressing needs and it will enable us to go out and take the coaching content, experience and tools into all regions across the country for the benefit of all of the boys and girls to improve their on-field development.”
The AFC’s course coordinator Jose Yulier Herranz revealed that there was a strategic approach to the recruitment of coaches on the programme. “The selection process was based on a study carried out by the Technical Department.
“We were keen to bring together the leading coaches in Cuba, those who excel as coaches out on the grass, the specialists, our doctors in science and retired athletes, etc. We wanted to put them into a different environment, but one in which they received training, were assessed and got us to a point where the CBF could bring them together to be able to run the C Licence.”
